Hasu-Seizo

Hasu-Seizo is a family-owned and operated business based in Seattle that sells handcrafted artisan Japanese knives. Our knives, the Sakai Takayuki brand, are manufactured by our family, blacksmiths, and other master craftsmen in Osaka.

Our passion for the history and traditions of the Japanese knife-making process inspired us to start Hasu-Seizo. We want to educate our customers about the various Japanese knife types and why they're so unique. Our online Japanese knife store has the best kitchen knives to help you achieve your full potential in the kitchen.

There are several ways to distinguish a Japanese knife from a Western-style knife. Generally speaking, Japanese knives are lighter and feel more balanced when you're holding them. They're made of stainless steel or a type of high-carbon steel called Yasugi hagane, which is hand-forged by professionals to be harder and thinner. These qualities make them well-suited to precise tasks.

The Japanese knife-making process has a rich history that can be traced back to the Sengoku period (1467-1568 CE) with the perfection of the katana. It's a complex art that has been passed down through generations through hard work and apprenticeship.

There are many types of Japanese knives, each of which is optimized for a specific purpose. Gyuto chef knives, for example, are average-sized knives ideal for a wide variety of kitchen tasks such as slicing meat and larger vegetables. Nakiri knives, recognizable by their rectangular blade, are razor-sharp, making them well-suited to cutting vegetables and herbs.

We carry a diverse array of knife collections at our Japanese knife online store. This includes petty utility knives, Deba butchery knives, versatile Santoku knives, and much more. We recommend browsing our inventory to find the right knife or Japanese knife set for your needs.

Before purchasing a Japanese knife, you should first identify what tasks you intend to use that knife for. This will save you from accidentally buying a butchery knife when you primarily prepare vegetables or herbs and a Japanese vegetable knife like the Nakiri would best serve your needs.

We recommend reading the product descriptions on our website to determine which knife is best suited to you. If you're still unsure, we encourage you to contact our helpful staff for guidance.

Japanese knives require daily attention to maintain their incredibly high performance. Their performance can even improve over time, so long as the owner cares for them properly. You can protect the delicate blade of your Japanese knife by using them with a wooden end grain board rather than marble, glass, steel, or bamboo boards. 

Your Japanese knife should also be hand-washed immediately after being used with a mild detergent. Once you've dried it with a cloth, be sure to store it in an area that's cool and dry. When possible storing your Japanese kitchen knives in a knife protectoror saya (sheath) will extend the life of your blades as well.

Japanese knives, if used regularly, should be professionally sharpened once or twice a year. Honing the knives can be performed prior to each use to ensure clean slicing but is not necessary for most home use.

If you opt for sharpening your own knives, we would advise against steel honing rods. Japanese knives should be sharpened at an angle of about 10-20 degrees using a whetstone. If you don't feel confident about taking on this task yourself, we encourage you to opt for a professional's services.

Don't see your question answered in the FAQs above? If you'd like to learn more about our Japanese knife shop online, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our friendly and knowledgeable team would be happy to help you. You can get in touch with us by emailing hello@hasuseizo.com, calling 1 (425) 273-5362, or filling out our contact form.